Hopple



C. STRAND Nov. 15, 1927.

HOPPLE Filed April 4. 1927 Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

PATENT @Fhltl CARL STRAND, OF MITCHELL,

SOUTH DAKOTA.

HOPPLE.

Application filed April 4,

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in hopples and pertains more particularly to a hopple which is applied to the r or leg of a cow to prevent the latter from kickin during milking.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which can be easily and quickly applied to and removed from the leg of the animal and which can be adjusted and also secured in place with out the use of buckles or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which is of simple construction and which can be economically produced.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the invention applied to the rear leg of a cow;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view with the lower chain removed.

In proceeding in accordance with the present invention, a body is provided which may be formed of a single piece of strap metal bent intermediate its ends so as to provide a pair of legs or bars 1 and 2 which are spaced and disposed in parallelism and which at their upper ends are curved forwardly at 3 and are connected by an integral loop, l, the latter adapted to engage the leg of the cow above the joint. The lower ends of the bars are provided with openings 5 receiving a chain 6 therein, the chain providing a loop which engages the front of the cows leg below the joint. A book 5 which opens or 'taces downwardly is secured to the bar 1 at a point intermediate the ends of the later. An opening 7 provided in the bar opposite to the book 5 and has one end of chain secured .zherein. A second hook or fastener is seen ed to the bar 1 and disposed above the hook 5.

In operation, it will be seen that the chain 8 permitted to lie free whereupon the body applied to the of the cow as shown in ig. l with the loops 4 and 6 engaged with the front side of the cows leg at points above and below the joint or knee. The chain 8 is now engaged about the rear side of the cows leg above the joint and is drawn taut and then engaged in or with the hook whereupon the free end of the chain is then drawn taut and engaged with the latch or fastener 9. lVith the parts in this position and as depicted in Fig. 1, it will be seen that the chain 8 is held taut and engaged 1927. Serial No. 180,777.

about the cows leg and is held against movcment with relation to the hook 5, or in other words, prevented from moving downwardly so as to be disengaged from the hook. The hook or fastener 9 is formed so as to somewhat wedgingly receive the free end of the chain and with link of the latter disposed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so that the eyes 01 the link will engage opposite sides of the hook 9 and prevent the latter from moving laterally of the bar 1. To disengage the parts, it is merely necessary to lift the free end of the chain out of the hook 9 whereupon the part of the chain engaged by the hook 5 will gravitate out of engagement with the latter.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the chain 8 can be very quickly and easily applied to and removed from the cows leg, and the manipulation of the usual tongue of a buckle thr ugh openings in straps is eliminated. The invention, moreover, enables the entire structure to be made of metal and thus provides a more serviceable device and one possessed of increased lite.

v hat is claimed is:

1. In a hopple, a body composed of spaced parallel bars having free lower ends and having their upper ends curved forwardly and connected by an integral curved loop, the lower ends of the bars having openings therein, a chain having its ends secured in said openings, a downwardly facing hook on the rear side of one of the bars located intermediate the end of said bar, a chain secured at one end to the other side bar at a point opposite to the hook and being engageable within the book so as to be held by the latter against upward movement, and an upwardly facing hook on the outer side face ol the first named bar located above the first named hook and formed to receive the other end of the second chain so as to hold the latter against movement and thereby hold the second chain against disengagement from the first hook.

2. In a hopple, a body composed of spaced parallel bars having tree lower ends and having their upper ends curved forwardly and connected by an integral curved loop, a leg-engaging member secured to the lower ends of the bars, a flexible element secured to one of the bars between the ends of the latter, a member carried by the other bar and located opposite to the point of securement oi the flexible element and formed with a downwardly facingmonth to receive a selected intermediate part of the element and hold same against upward movement, and means on said last named bar and located above the said member to engage and hold the free end of the element. at any selected point along the length of the element so as to prevent disengagement of the element from said member.

3. In an animal hopple. a body having upper and lower loops to embrace the forward portion of the leg above and below the joint, a flexible element secured at one end to the to engage the element 0 as to hold FZHHC againat movement and thereby hold the element against movement out of di.-'en; a{Iement with the first named means.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature.

CARL STRAND. 

